Why Was Another Brick In The Wall Banned?

“We don’t need no education…”. I’m sure you’ve heard that line before, even if you don’t know it’s from the song “Another Brick In The Wall Part 2” by the legendary rock band Pink Floyd. But did you know that this mega-hit song was actually banned in certain places back when it came out? Keep reading to find out the crazy story behind the ban!

Introducing Pink Floyd and “The Wall”

First, a quick intro in case you’ve never heard of Pink Floyd before. They were one of the biggest rock bands ever back in the 1970s and 80s. Their music is known for being super creative, artsy, and having really deep lyrics.

“Another Brick In The Wall” is from Pink Floyd’s epic album “The Wall”. Released in 1979, The Wall tells the fictional story of a rock star named Pink who builds an emotional “wall” around himself to protect from the world after having a rotten childhood and losing his dad in World War 2. It’s filled with lots of drama, emotion, and as you guessed, lots of symbolism about “walls”!

The Song Hits #1…And Causes Controversy

Part 2 of “Another Brick in The Wall” was released as a single and shot straight to #1 on the charts in the U.K. and many other countries. With its funky bassline, iconic guitar riff, and chorus of British schoolkids chanting “We don’t need no education…”, it became Pink Floyd’s biggest pop hit ever.

But not everyone was thrilled. The rebellious lyrics attracted controversy from the start. British education authorities called the song “scandalous”. Even the Prime Minister at the time, the strict Mrs. Thatcher, was said to hate it!

Why? Well, lines like “We don’t need no thought control/No dark sarcasm in the classroom/Teachers leave those kids alone” were seen as anti-authority. And youth rebellion against school was pretty common back then too. Keep in mind this was written by a bunch of 30-something British guys looking back at their own rotten school days. Times were different, schools were stricter, teachers could get away with more back then. They were sharing their true feelings and it struck a nerve.

Banned By the Apartheid!

Things got even crazier when the song reached South Africa. “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” shot to #1 there for 3 months straight in 1980, way longer than its run in the U.K. or U.S. charts.

But this was during the years of Apartheid in South Africa, when extreme segregation laws were forcing racial separation, including in schools. Anger was building among South African youth about the unequal school system.

And with lines like “We don’t need no education”, Pink Floyd’s rebellious anthem became a rallying cry for high schoolers organizing school boycotts! By May 1980, as protests spread, the South African government outright BANNED radio stations from playing “Another Brick in the Wall” altogether!

The band members were shocked. Roger Waters said, “They thought ‘We don’t need no education’ was a kind of crass revolutionary standpoint—which clearly wasn’t the case if you listen to the song critically and in context. But it got strange reactions from some folks you wouldn’t expect.”

Indeed, South Africa’s Apartheid regime saw the song as a threat – proof that music holds real power. Though banning a song seems silly now, for an oppressive government afraid of revolt from fed-up youth, kicking this catchy protest anthem off the airwaves seemed necessary.

Legacy

By 1994, Apartheid finally fell, Mandela was elected president, and the cultural boycott ended in South Africa, allowing freely play Pink Floyd tunes on the radio.

Yet “Another Brick in the Wall” remains legendary for its rebellious spirit that spoke to – and was banned by – an oppressive power. Its mix of funky pop hooks, raw emotion, and schoolkid chant makes it one of the most unlikely worldwide protest anthems ever recorded.

Now when you hear a crowd chanting “We don’t need no education…” at a rock concert or sporting event, you’ll know the deeper meaning behind that line!